VOA常速英语:Turkey Playing Increasing Role in Iraq

短语讲解：

1. The U.S. secretary of defense is visiting NATO ally Turkey. He arrived in the Turkish capital, Ankara, after attending a withdrawal ceremony Thursday in Bagdad of American troops all of whom are due to leave by the end of the month.

due to预定, 预期
例句：The boat is due to arrive at 12.
船预计在12点到。

2. With the U.S. withdrawal, Turkey is now being seen by Washington as playing a potential key role in Iraq.

play a role in在……扮演一个角色，在某方面起作用
例句：The headmaster plays an important role in the good running of a school.
办好一所学校, 校长起重要作用。

3. International relations expert Soli Ozel of Kadir Has University says with U.S. forces pulling out of Iraq at the end of the month, that cooperation will only deepen.

pull out退出
例句：The invading troops are pulling out of the occupied area under international supervision.
入侵部队正在国际监督下撤出占领区。

4. Last month, Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Selcuk Unal said Washington has proposed to take over the influential role of training Iraqi military personal, now that U.S. troops are pulling out.

take over接管; 接替
例句：She took over his work after his departure.
他离开以后, 她接替了他的工作。

5. This issue has come up to the agenda, and of course, we will be considering it.

come up to达到，符合
例句：Your behavior does not come up to the expected standard.
你的举止达不到要求。

6. "The increase of the Iranian through Shia elements in Iraq, that is what Turkey will be worried about," added Idiz.

be worried about 为…忧虑,烦恼
例句：He is worried about losing his job.
他担忧失去工作。

7. And with Turkey there is a political competition going on for influence between Iran and Turkey.

go on发生，(活动)进行
例句：There is a wedding going on at the church.
教堂正在举行一场婚礼。

8. But international relations expert Soli Ozel says while Ankara may be willing to challenge Iranian influence, there is already growing irritation in Baghdad towards Ankara.

be willing to乐于
例句：I am willing to help you.
我很乐意帮助你。

9. Those relations are already under pressure over Ankara's support for the opposition against Tehran's key ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. 

under pressure在压力下
例句：He performed well under pressure.
他在压力之下表现得很好。

10. The expected growing cooperation between Ankara and Washington on Iraq, they say, will only strengthen bilateral relations, which will only add to Tehran's angst.

add to增加
例句：The snowstorm added to our difficulties.
暴风雪增加了我们的困难。